Illuminated key holder



4ILLUMINMED KEY HOLDER Filed Dec. 5, 1948 Gerrana/ ang/rauf A Homey Patented Nov. 18, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT CFFICE l Claim.

This invention relates to a novel container for keys equipped with a self contained illuminating means which is automatically operated for energizing a light source thereof when the container is opened for use and which includes a spring for urging a switch element into a circuit closing position and for swinging a closure of the container into an open position when the closure is unlatched.

Another object of the invention is to provide a key container which will enable the keys to be more conveniently handled than with conventional key cases and whereby the container may be positioned so that the light rays can be directed on the keys or on a keyhole as desired.

Another object of the invention is to provide a container for keys and a self contained light source which, when closed, will exclude dirt and other particles therefrom and which can be conveniently carried in the pocket.

A further object of the invention is to provide a container of extremely simple construction to facilitate the replacement of the parts of its self contained light source and wherein various parts perform dual functions.

Various other objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafter become more fully apparent from the following description of the drawing, illustrating a preferred embodiment thereof, and wherein:

Figure l is an enlarged perspective view showing the container of the invention in a closed position;

Figure 2 is a substantially central sectional View thereof partly in side elevation;

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional View taken substantially along a plane as indicated by the line 3 3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3 but showing the container in an open position;

Figure 5 is a bottom plan view of the container;

Figure 6 is a top plan view thereof and with the closure in an open position;

Figure 7 is a fragmentary sectional View similar to Figure 2 but showing the self contained light source latched in a circuit interrupting position, and

Figure 8 is a sectional view taken substantially along a plane as indicated by the line 8 8 of Figure 6.

Referring more specically to the drawing, the illuminated key holder in its entirety is designated generally is and includes a container, designated generally H of rectangular cross section including a body portion I2 and a recessed lid or closure i3. As seen in Figures 1 and 2, the

container il is provided with rounded corners and is of a size to conveniently fit into the pocket.

The lid I3 is swingably connected to the open upper end or the body I2 by a hinge I4 which is disposed along a side wall of each. As seen in Figure 2, the body portion I2 is provided with a transverse partition I5 dividing the container body I2 into compartments I6 and II.

The compartment i6 is provided with a closed bottom and an open top and adjacent its upper end contains an anchoring loop IB which is preferably secured to the innerside of an end wall of the container body I2 and to which one end of a chain I9 is anchored. The chain adapted to extend through the eyes of a plurality of keys 2i) which are normally disposed within the compartment I t and a split ring 2I is removably secured to the opposite end of the chain for normally retaining the keys thereon. It will be readily apparent that by inverting the container body I2, with the lid I3 in an open position, that the keys will readily drop out of the compartment I6 or the keys or chain may be grasped for extracting the keys and chain from said cornpartment with the container body I2 in an upright position as seen in Figure 4. The container body I2 is provided with a removable plate 22 forming a part of the bottom thereof and normally closing the lower end of the compartment Il. The partition I, adjacent its upper end, is provided with a laterally extending ledge or shelf 23 which overlies a portion of the upper end of the compartment I 'I to provide a support for one end of a removable cover plate 24 which normally closes the upper end of the compartment I I and the opposite end of which rests on a ledge 25, formed on the innerside of the opposite end wall of the container body I2. Screw fastenings 26 extend through the cover plate 24 into the shelf 23 and ledge 25 for detachably retaining said plate in its app-lied position as illustrated.

The plate 2d is provided with an opening 2'I for threadedly receiving the threaded base of a flashlight bulb 28 which extends downwardly therethrough and the base Contact of which engages the positive contact of a dry cell battery 29 which is disposed in an upright position in the compartment I'I and the lower, negative contact of which rests on a projection 33 oi the plate 22.

A tube 3I is disposed in an upright position in the compartment I1 beside the battery 29 and is provided with a closed lower end which rests on the plate 22 and which forms a stop for an expansion spring 32 which is contained within said tube, as seen in Figures 3 and 4. A tube 33 telescopes into the upper end of the tube 3I and is I9 is.

likewise provided with a olosedlower end forming a seat for the upper end of the spring 32 and for the lower end of a rod 34 which extends up- Wardly through the tube 33 and to substantially thereabove and which projects through an opening 35 in the plate 24. The upper end of the rod 33 normally abuts against a projection 33 of the cover I3 which extends into the recess thereof, when said cover is in a closed position, for retaining the rod 34 and tube 33 in retracted positions, as illustrated in Figures'2 and 3.

As best seen in Figure 8, a spring latch 3l has its lower end disposed in the compartment Il and achored by a pin or fastening 38 to the front Wall thereof. Said spring latch 3l extends upwardly through aligned openings 39 in the shelf 23 and plate 24 and has a hook-shaped upper end which normally engages over an internally disposed detent 43 formed on the innerside of the lid I3 for retaining said lid in a closed position and so that the rod 33 and sleeve 33 will be held retracted, as seen in Figures 2 and 3 for retaining the spring 32 in a loaded condition. A stem 3| extends from an intermediate portion of the latch 30 through an enlarged opening 32 in the front Wall of the compartment Il, the outer part of which forms a push button portion adapted to be manually engaged and pressed inwardly to- Ward the container body for moving the hookshaped upper end of the spring latch 31 out of engagement over the detent i3 so that the lid i3 can swing on its hinge I4 to its open position as illustrated in Figures 4 and 6. It will be readily apparent that when the lid i3 is thus released the spring 32 will project the sleeve 33 and rod 34 upwardly so that the upper end of the rod 34 by engagement with the projection 35 will swing the lid I3 to its open position. The sleeve 33 is of too large a diameter to pass through the opening 35 so that the upper end of said sleeve will abut against the underside of the plate 24 to limit the upward movement of the sleeve under the force of the spring 32.

The rod 34 is provided with a laterally opening notch 44 Vadjacent its upper end so that by manually depressing the rod 3d, said rod and the sleeves 3I and 33 can be laterally displaced sufciently for engaging the notch with a portion of the plate 24 surrounding the opening 35 for latching the sleeve 33 and rod 3S in retracted positions, as illustrated in Figure 7 so that said parts will not be projected when the lid I3 is opened. It will be readily apparent that when the rod 34 is thus latched, the lid I3 will have to be manually swung to an open position.

The plate 22 is provided with an undercut end, as seen in Figure 2, for engaging a similarly inclined surface of the container body I2 and the opposite end of said plate seats in a recessed bottom portion of the body I2 and has a screw fastening 45 extending therethrough and into the body I2 for removably securing the plate 22 in position.

The container I I is preferably formed of plastic or other electrical insulating material while the plates 22 and 23 and the sleeves 3l and 33 are preferably formed of an electrical conducting material such as metal. Accordingly, when the rod 33 is retracted as illustrated in Figure 2 or 7 the circuit o f the bulb 28 and battery 23 will be interrupted due to the fact that the rod 33 is also formed of an electrical insulating material such as plastic and accordingly the bulb 2S will be deenergized whenever the cover I3 is closed. However, when the rod 33 is in its position as seen in Figures 2 and 3 and the latch 3'! is released, the spring 32 will project said rod and the sleeve 33 for swinging the lid I3 to its open position of Figure 4 and so that the sleeve 33 will engage the plate 23 so that an electric circuit will be completed from the threaded base of the bulb 28 through the plate 24, sleeves 33 and 3| and plate 22 to the negative end of the battery 23 for energizing the lamp bulb. The keys 28 may be removed from the compartment I5 as previously described and the light from the bulb 28 utilized to select the desired key 23 and for illuminating a keyhole into which said key is to be placed. For daytime use, the rod 34 is latched in a retracted position as illustrated in Figure 7 Y so that the bulb 28 will not be energized when the lid I3 is opened.

Various modifications and changes are contemplated and may obviously be resorted to, without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as hereinafter defined by the appended claim.

I claim as my invention:

A key holder comprising a key container provided with a hinged lid, said container having a plurality of compartments, a self contained light source in one of said compartments including a dry cell battery contained in said compartment and a lamp bulb, said Vcontainer being fomed of electrical insulating material, a plate of electrical conducting material for closing the upper end of said compartment and removably applied to the container, the threaded base of said lamp bulb extending threadedly through said plate for positioning its base contact in electrical engagement with the battery and for positioning the globe of the bulb above the plate to be normally enclosed by the container lid, said container having a removable plate of electrical conducting inaterial for closing the bottom of said compartment and in contact with the base of the battery, a telescopic conductor member disposed between the plates including an outer section fixed to the last mentioned plate and an inner spring projected section slidably disposed in the outer section and having an outer end normally urged into engagementwith the first mentioned plate for forming an electrical connection between said plates, and a rod of nonconducting material i'ixed to and extending from the outer end of the spring projected section slidably through the first mentioned plate having an end'engaged by the y lid, when the lid is in a closed position, for retaining said spring projected sectionout of engagement with said rst mentioned plate to break the electric connection between the lamp bulb and battery.

GERBRAND LANGHGUT.

' nnrnnnncns crrnn The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberV Name Date 1,441,884 Roify Jan. 9, 1923 1,746,810 Anderson Feb. 11, 193@ l Roddis Dec. l, 1931 1,343,343 Britsch Dec. 26, 1933 2,156,463 Schulte May 2, i939 2,153,113 Dickson Aug. 1, 1939 2,278,270 Flagg Apr. '7, 1942 2,333,481 Batheller Jan. fl, 1944 2,e81,295 Corigliano Sept. 6, 1949 

